2024 CFFC: September – Piles or Stacks

Here are entries for this week’s CFFC:

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge (CFFC) – Piles or Stacks

Photo Credit: ©2019-2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1 & 3) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2, 4-5) Canon EOS Rebel T3i; 6) iPhone XR

Locations: 1-5) Gastonia, North Carolina; 6) Babyland General Hospital; Cleveland, Georgia, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Wordless Wednesday: 09.25

Squirrel 🐿️ Watching

Sciurus carolinensis
Eastern gray squirrel

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit :©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i

Location: The Schiele Museum of Natural History Nature Trail; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Sunday Stills: September Color Challenge — Orange and/or Peach

Terri from Second Wind Leisure Perspectives hosts Sunday Stills Monthly Color each month. Her colour theme for September is Colors of Peach and Orange.

Here are my selections for Terri’s Color Challenge for September.

Terri’s Sunday Stills-Orange and/or Peach

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Becky’s Squares-#Seven for September

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. Have a fabulous day! I appreciate y’all very much.

Birds of the Carolinas #17/Bird of the Week #LXXIX

Anas platyrhynchos

The Anas platyrhynchos is commonly known as Mallard or wild duck. The males (also called drakes) have green heads, while the females (called hens) have mainly brown speckled plumage.

The Mallard is approximately 50-65 centimeters (20-26 inches) long, the body making up the majority (about two-thirds) of their length. They are oftentimes slightly more heavier than the most othe dabbling ducks, weighing 0.7-1.6 kilograms (1.5-3.5 pounds).

Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes. The Mallards shown here are quite commonly seen at Rankin Lake and other local lakes and parks in the vicinity.

They are a very adaptable species in that they are able to live and thrive in urban areas which may have supported more localised, sensitive species of waterfowl before development.

The name Mallard originally referred to any wild drake, and sometimes it is still associated in this way.

Mallards tend to frequently interbreed with their closest relatives in the genus Anas, which for example might be the American black duck. They might possibly interbreed with other species, such as the northern pintail or various hybrids that could be fertile.

In North America, Mallards winter in the south to southern United States and Northern Mexico. [The Mallards here were shot on camera in January, mid-winter for the southern United States.]

In summer, a combination of hot temperatures and reduced water levels place mallards at an increased risk of contracting botulism. Outbreaks of botulism among mallard populations can lead to mass die-offs.

Birds of the Carolinas

Birds of the Week LXXIX

Photo Credit ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Location: Rankin Lake Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA 

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Last on the Card – August

Brian’s Busboys World is the host for Last on the Card requests us to share our last photo on our SD cards or on our phones for August 31 or whenever your last photo was taken. No editing — just however it came out in focus, blurry, or whatever it may be. No explanations necessary. Be sure to create a pingback to Brian’s post or leave a link in his comments. Be sure to tag your post with The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard.

Here are my Last on the Card photos for August:

From my Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Coleman’s Brio Railroad design

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

From my Dad’s Minolta XG – 7:

The last photo I digitized in August.

Brian’s Busboys World is the host Last on the Card

God Bless. Have a great week and join in on the fun. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Numbers Game #34-155/LAPC/MM — What’s in a Garden?

Welcome to The Numbers Game #34”.Today’s number is 155. To play along, go to your photos file and type that number into the search bar. Then post a selection of the photos you find under that number and include a link to your blog in my Numbers Game blog of the day. If instead of numbers, you have changed the identifiers of all your photos into words, pick a word or words to use instead, and show us a variety of photos that contain that word in the title.

This week I am combining Judy’s Numbers Game with Leanne’s Monochrome Madness and Leya’s Lens-Artist Photo Challenge . I am choosing to use the Word Garden for this week’s challenges.

Glencairn Gardens

Glencairn Gardens is ideal for a Spring stroll through the gardens of blooming azaleas, pansies, wisteria, and periwinkle. When visiting the Gardens be sure to meander through the Veterans Garden which pays tribute to Veterans of all branches of service. Also, during Spring, you be able to enjoy the blossoms of Viburnum, Pink and white Dogwoods, Redbuds, peonies, magnolia trees, and flowering Yoshino and Kwanzan cherry trees.

There is beauty to be seen no matter when one decides to visit Glencairn Gardens. Summertime brings on the colourful bright blooms of crape myrtles, daylilies and hundreds of other annuals.

The trails through the Gardens pass by several fountains, ponds, as well as the vast variety of flowering plants and trees. we enjoy strolling pass the Fountains, especially when they are flowing during the springtime. We always stop by the Veterans Garden when we go visit and remember our family members who have served in our Armed Forces.

Glencairn Gardens began in 1928 as a backyard garden by David and Hazel Bigger who lived in the h9use that serves as the park’s welcome center. It was the inspiration for Rock Hill’s annual Come-See-Me Festival which is a festival celebrating music, frogs, and fun. The Bigger’s gifted this Gardens to the City of Rock Hill through a deed in 1958. The peak blooming season is from the end of March to the middle of April. The Veterans Garden was created with the partnership with The American Legion Post 34 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2889. It h9onors women and men from the past, present, and future who served in the United States armed forces.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #311 – What’s in a Garden?

Leanne’s Monochrome Madness

Judy’s Numbers Game #34 — 155

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2019 & 2023 Deb L Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Apple iPhone XR and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm and Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses.

Location: Glencairn Gardens; Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting the Gardens with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 FOTD: 08.12 — Rosa ‘Anuschka’ 

Rosa ‘Anuschka’ 

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Weekend FOTD: 08.10/11

Loropetalum chinense 

Loropetalum chinense 
Plum Delight
Chinese Fringe flower

Weekend FOTD

Photo Credits: ©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens

Location: Martha Rivers Park; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Last On the Card — July

Brian from Bushboy.blog asks us to post our last photo on our SD card or phone on the last day of the month. No editing. Explanations not necessary. Create a Pingback or leave a link in comments to Brian’s blog. Use the tags The Last Photo and #LastOnTheCard. Your last photo doesn’t have to be on the very last day of the month if you didn’t take any photos on that day. Maybe it was earlier in the month when the last photo was taken.

From My iPhone:

Coleman
in his new
Grave Digger shirt

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

Patterson Pond
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

From My Dad’s Slides taken with his Minolta XG-7 35 mm Via My Wolverine Digital Converter:

San Diego Wild Animal Park
San Diego, California, USA

Brian’s Last On the Card

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 OWS: 06.30 — Star

Star Reflections

Debbie’s One Word Sunday’s word this week is Star. Here are my interpretations on Star for this week’s challenge.

Using a Star Filter

Canon Photography

Altura ⭐️ Star Filters

Star Reflections

in Robinwood Lake

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Star Flowers

Debbie’s One Word Sunday-Star

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Canon EOS Rebel T3i and iPhone 14 Pro Max

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with y. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Share Your Desktop: June 15

Clare at Clare’s Cosmos hosts the Share Your Desktop Challenge. She invites us all to share our desktops; whether that be from our desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones it does not matter. Join in the challenge and let us all see what you look at every day.

Here are my desktops, wallpapers, wall savers, from my Laptop and my iPhone:

From my HP Laptop:

Laptop Wallpaper:

My Grandson, Coleman
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Laptop Desktop:

Patterson Pond
Anne Springs Close Greenway

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Reading Focus:

Alpaca
Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Television Focus:

Horse Drinking Water
Greenway Stables Entrance
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Personal Focus:

Coleman with the Horses
Greenway Stables
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Hiking Focus:

Coleman Hiking
Dogwood Trail
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Share Your Desktop-June 2024

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Laptops) Canon EOS Rebel T3i; iPhone) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Macro Monday: 06.10

Buttonbush
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Buttonbush Cephalanthus occidentalis
Trigonopeltastes delta
&
Eastern black swallowtail butterfly
on a Buttonbush

Macro Monday 

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens.

Location: Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Weekend FOTD: 06.08/09

Brassica rapa

Field Mustard 
Brassica rapa

Cee’s Weekend FOTD

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Cee, you are strong, you are appreciated, and we miss you. Get Better soon. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Last on the Card: May

On my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

White Sultan Chicken
Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm
Anne Springs Close Greenway
Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Coleman

Last on the Card

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 FOTD: 05.29

Calopogon tuberosus

Simpson’s grass pink and it is in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae) grasspink (Calopogon tuberosus var. simpsonii).

The genus name “Calopogon” is Greek and means “beautiful beard.” It refers to the hairlike structures on the upper petal. It has a bulb-like corm that resembles a tuber, hence the name “tuberosus.” The slender grass-like leaves give rise to the name “grass pink.” It is a stunning wildflower.

Cee’s Flower of the Day

Becky’s #SquareRenew

Photo Credit:©️2023 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.

Location: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden; Belmont, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Take time to renew your body, mind, and spirit. Like the Garden we also need to renew ourselves to further our growth. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Judy’s Numbers Game #22 — 143 (My #2)

Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm
Sign at Entrance
Patterson Pond
on the pathway
to the Farm Animals
Canada Goose
Swimming in
Patterson Pond
Canada Geese
Flying away
from the Pond
A Horse
by the
Greenway Stables
Spotting a Couple
of Horses
in the Pasture

It just happened by chance that all my “143” photos were taken at Anne Springs Close Greenway. My grandson and I love moving forward along the trails and pathways enjoying a relaxing time surrounded by nature and the reconstructed Children’s Farm.

Judy’s Numbers Game #22

Becky’s Square Challenge-Renew/Moving Forward/Reconstruct/Burgeoning

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved

Cameras: 1-2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with 1) Canon EF75-300mm and 2) Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses; 3-6) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: Greenway Farm and Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 SYD: May 15

Can you believe it? We are half through the month of May and one-fourth (1/4) of the way through twenty twenty-four (2024). It is already time for another of Clare’s Share Your Desktop where Clare asks us to share our desktops/wallpaper either from our desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphones.

Now it’s my turn to share my desktops/wallpapers with you. First up is from my iPhone followed by my laptop.

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Personal Focus

Coleman

Hiking Focus

Coleman at a crossroads
between Dogwood, Timberline
and Peach Loop Trails

Reading Focus

Lake Haigler
Anne Springs Close Greenway

From my HP Laptop:

Screensaver Wallpaper

Coleman

Desktop

Horses
at Dairy Barn Entrance
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Clare’s Share Your Desktop

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Squared “142” Numbers Game #21

This is my first time participating in Judy’s Number Game. My entry is being combined with Becky’s Squares Challenge

Getting out in nature always helps to renew my mind, refresh my spirit, and rejuvenate my soul. This view is from the side porch of the Gibson House.

On Sunday, Coleman and I drove into Fort Mill to visit the newly renewed and reconstructed Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm at the Anne Springs Close Greenway. The newly reconstructed children’s farm is accessible through the Greenway Stables Entrance. We are moving forward ( I know you can’t see our movements, but you can imagine them) to visit the Farm animals (chickens, rabbits, alpacas, and cattle.)

After visiting the farm animals, Coleman and I went back to the car to grab our snacks and put my backpack in it as my camera battery had died. So then I continued taking photos with my iPhone as we proceeded to Move Forward through the horse stables on towards the trails for a bit of hiking. We hiked along on the Dogwood Trail, made a loop onto Peach Loop to watch out over Lake Haigler before heading back to the car and home.

While gazing out over Lake Haigler, I reminisced for a short while remembering a time of apple picking, fresh apple cider, and fresh bread with a dollop of fresh homemade apple butter in Julian, California.

Now that I have your mouth watering for the delicious delightful aroma of fresh homemade apple delicacies, I trust you’ll have a wonderful rest of your weekend and a blissful weekend.

Judy’s Numbers Game Challenge – 142

Becky’s #SquareRenew – Renew-Reconstruct-Moving Forward

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm and Canon EF-S18-55mm lenses.

Location: 1-3) Greenway Stables Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA; 4) Julian, California, USA

God Bless. Thank you for trekking along with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Happy Mother’s Day!

It has been a beautiful day to rejuvenate, to renew the mind, and enjoy nature with my grandson today.

Patterson Pond
Anne Springs Close Greenway

Becky’s #SquareRenew

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

Location: Patterson Pond; Crandall Bowles Children’s Farm; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Words for Thought #17

Autumn-olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
AKA Silverberry, Russian-olive

Think About It Tuesday

Cee’s FOTD

Becky’s #SquaresRenew

Photo Credit: (c) 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S 18-55mm lens

Location: Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 FOTD: 05.02

Dianthus chinensis x barbatus

Pink Dianthus
Dianthus Floral Lace Red
Dianthus Floral Lace Mixture
Dianthus chinensis x barbatus

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens and Altura UV filter attachment.

Location: The Heritage Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Last on the Card —April

From my iPhone 14 Pro Max:

Wheatear
(Oenanthe oenanthe)
Backyard Birds
Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

From my Canon EOS Rebel T3i:

Spot of Red among the Green
The Schiele Museum of Natural History Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

Brian’s Last on the Card – April 2024

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your Last on the Card photos. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Words for Thought #16

John 15:1-2 NIV

Think About It Tuesday

Cee’s FOTD

Photo Credit: (c) 2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens with Altura UV filter attachment.

Location: The Heritage Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 WWE #218

Some Murky, Some Reflections, Ripples, & Splashes

For Jez’s Water Water Everywhere this week I’m posting a variety of photos taken of Robinwood Lake.

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #218

Photo Credit:©️ 2024 Deb L. Waters …. All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens and Altura UV & NP Filter attachments.

Location: Robinwood Lake; Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CFFC: Things that are Rough

Rough Wood
Rough Rocks
Rough Bricks

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge-Things that are Rough

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens; 2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens; 3) iPhone 14 Pro Max

Location: 1-2) Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina; 3) Patio; Gastonia, North Carolina

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Flow & WWE #218

Flowing Downstream

Here is my compilation for this week’s  Weekly Prompt’s Weekend Challenge. I’m also applying it to Jez’s Water Water Everywhere Challenge.

These are just a few of the ways we see water flowing as we walk through the neighbourhood or as we hike among the trees in and around the Carolinas.

Small Spillway in
Gastonia, North Carolina
Anne Springs Close Greenway Spillway
Fort Mill, South Carolina
Spillway
The Schiele Museum’s Nature Trail Gastonia, North Carolina
Fort Mill Dam
Fort Mill, South Carolina

Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge – Flow

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #218

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1-3) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Monday Portrait: 04.22

Bleating to Greet Y’all

Wait a Sec … I’ll Come Closer.

Goat

Can Y’all See Me Now?

Monday Portrait

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Macro Monday: 04.22

Rhododendron japonicum

Pink Azalea
Rhododendron japonicum

Macro Monday

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens with Altura UV filter attachment.

Location: The Nature Trail; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Weekend FOTD: 04.21

Sisymbrium loeselii
Brassicaceae
Leaf Mustard

Cee’s Weekend Flower of the Day

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens.

Location: The Heritage Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Grrr, Better to Eat You With …

Dinosaur Teeth

Six Word Saturday

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm lens.

Settings: f5.6 • 1/3 • 75mm • ISO3200

Location: Dinosaur Exhibits; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Rooftop Garden of Stonecrop

Pyxidanthera barbulata
Common Pyxie-moss
Sedum kamtschaticum
Russian Stonecrop
Phedimus kamtschaticus,
the orange stonecrop

Thursday Trios

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge 

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S75-300mm lens with Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: The Rooftop Garden; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts. I appreciate y’all.

2024 CMMC/CWWC: Any Latte Way

We managed to have a beautiful clear day yesterday (almost), so Coleman and I rode the bus to the Y for some fresh air and a bit of hiking.

All aboard, we’re on our way.

Before we begin our hike, it’s Coleman swing time. If we waited till later the school kids would have taken over and he couldn’t have been able to play.

Next, Coleman cools down with a snack as I gaze out over the lake.

Now for our hiking, Coleman leads the Way. I constantly have to instruct him to slow down. He hikes much faster than I’m able to hike.

Through the woods along the bank of the lake we traverse. Across the dam and deeper into the woods. Upward, downward, and around and around we go.

Coleman spots the Fitness Challenge area off the Yellow Trail and climbs aboard for some fun before continuing our hike and back up to the Y.

Tired from our hike we’re gonna Leaf it all behind, and venture to the bus stop and head home.

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-April Latte Color

Cee’s Which Way Challenge-Any Way

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens with Altura UV & NP filter and also Altura Wide-Angle Fisheye attachments.

Location: Gaston County Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Get Outdoors and Enjoy Our Beautiful Earth. Thank you for traversing the trail with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Wordless Wednesday: 04.17.24

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S18-55mm lens with Altura UV and NP Filter attachments plus Altura Photo 58MM 0.35x Fisheye Canon Wide Angle Lens (w/Macro Portion).

Location: Robinwood Lake; Robinwood Lake Dam; Warlick Family YMCA; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Sunday Stills: #Color challenge: Diamond, Quartz, Crystal, and/or Purple

Purple I have, not so much in the way of Diamonds, Crystals, or Quartz. Therefore, I showing y’all some of my favourite purples.

Viola × williamsii, 
Purple Pansies
Glandularia,
 AKA Mock Vervain 
or Mock Verbena
Buddleja davidii
 Butterfly Bush
Digitalis purpurea,
AKA the foxglove 
or common foxglove

Now for Quartz, (not what you had in mind, I bet.)

Coleman
holding the
Quartz Trail Sign

Terri’s Sunday Stills

Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge

Photo Credit: ©️2022-2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: 1 & 3) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2 & 4) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm and Canon EF 75-300mm lenses; 5) iPhone 13 Pro.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 SYD: April 15

Clare @ Clare’s Cosmos invites us each month to share our desktops on the 15th of each month. Can you believe it the month of April is half over already? Here it is time once again to join Share Your Desktop. I like to share my wallpaper for my iPhone as well as for my Laptop. For my iPhone I use different wallpaper’s for the different focuses I use; personal, hiking, and reading.

Share Your Desktop

From my iPhone:

Personal Focus

Hiking Focus

Reading Focus

From my Laptop:

Share Your Desktop-April 15

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. Looking forward to seeing y’all’s desktops. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CMMC: April – Cafe Latte Color

My entries for Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge are mostly from South Carolina from my archives. Feel free to join in and post your own Cafe Latte color photos and link them to Cee.

Solar Eclipse
as seen on Tiles
Sesquicentennial State Park
Columbia, South Carolina
Riverbanks Zoo
Columbia, South Carolina
Andrew Jackson
State Park Lake

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-Cafe Latte Color

Photo Credit: ©️Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Photos taken between 2017-2019 except eclipse is from 2024.

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 Weekly Color Challenge- Black

Good Day everyone! Welcome to my blog. The following are my entries for this week’s Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge. The challenge is asking for photos depicting the colour BLACK.

Children’s Blackboard

Weekly Prompts Colour Challenge-Black

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 WWE #216 — ASCG’s Lake Haigler

Lake Haigler Loop

View of

Lake Haigler

Jez’s Water Water Everywhere #216

Hugh’s Wordless Wednesday

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens with Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Lake Haigler; Lake Haigler Loop; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Enjoy your week and have a fabulous weekend. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Words for Thought #13

Flowering Dogwood

Think About It Tuesday

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 FOTD: 04.09

Phlox subulata

Cee’s Flower of the Day:04.09

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Schroering Forest Playground; Lake Haigler Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Have a lovely Spring day. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

Fairy 🧚‍♂️ Seating — It’s Swing Time

As Coleman and I were hiking along Steele Creek Trail back towards the car we spotted this little Fairy Garden tucked away in the base of a tree. I have seen pictures which other hikers have taken before, however this was the first time we had ever spotted the Fairy Garden. If you weren’t looking at the surrounding landscape you could possibly miss seeing it.

Spotted along
Steele Creek Trail
Fairy Garden
Time to Swing
and Relax

Pull Up a Seat-2024 Week 14

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: 1&3) iPhone 14 Pro Max; 2) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300 mm lens and Altura CPL filter attachment.

Location: Steele Creek Trail; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CWWC: Any Type of Road, Path, Step, Bridge or Sign.

Following Cee’s lead on

Narrow Walkways

Mine are Along the

Blue Star Trail

On this hiking adventure I parked at the Dairy Barn Entrance to the Anne Springs Close Greenway. After exiting the car we proceeded to hike along the fencing before hitting the trails. Following the fence line we were able to view the horses, some of which trotted over to our location. [More on horses later].

Our first stop along the Blue Star Trail was to take a look at the Faires/Coltharp Cabin. To our surprise and delight it was open to the public (first time we’d seen it open). So naturally, Coleman with me following went inside to see what was inside.

A Look
inside the
Faires/Coltharp Cabin

After leaving the cabin, we hiked further along the Blue Star Trail towards the Swinging Bridge and the Schroering Forest Playground located on the other side of the Spillway.

Blue Star Trail

When the Spillway is up and streaming with a steady flow of water, the only way to cross it is to walk across the Greenway’s Swinging Bridge. Since our destination was on the far side of the Swinging Bridge we/I slowly walked across. Coleman used to walk across it when he was younger, but now if no one else is on it he’ll run across.

Coleman
crossing the
Swinging Bridge

We made it safely across the Swinging Bridge, walked around the Artisan Market, ordered lunch from the Greenway’s Canteen and rested a bit before heading to the Schroering Forest Playground. We had a clear view of the Playground from where we chose to sit. This was the first official day the Playground was open. They had been working on it all fall and winter. Being its opening day, the playground was crowded with children from all age groups.

Coleman
hiking the
Blue Star Trail

Upon completion of our lunch we noticed there were still a lot of children on the playground. I decided to have Coleman wait to play in it until it wasn’t nearly so crowded. Therefore, we continued on with our hiking and headed down to Lake Haigler.

Blue Star Trail
Almost down to
Lake Haigler

We hiked along the narrow side pathway towards the lake. The straight pathway is wider and more widely traveled by the majority of visitors to the Greenway.

We hiked a short loop with great views of Lake Haigler and then hiked back up to the Playground. Coleman climbed up on the Climbing structure and wasn’t sure about what to do after climbing up a short ways and just sat down for a few minutes. [The all natural wood climbing structure seemed to puzzle Coleman. He’ll probably climb more next time we visit.]

Steele Creek Trail

After a full afternoon of hiking and Coleman playing I decided it was time to head home. Hence, we proceeded to hike back up to the car. Instead of hiking the exact same trail we hiked down, we started out hiking on the Steele Creek Trail. The Steele Creek Trail is a narrow trail that leads up towards the Graham Historical Cabin.

From the cabin we traverse back onto the Blue Star Trail. After short distance from the cabin, Coleman starts searching for the cows. Sometimes they are up close to the fence line, but on this day we really had to look for them. Searching the pasture as we hiked up the trail, two of the cows came walking towards our direction from the far end of the pasture. That made a Coleman’s day. He was then ready to go home.

Cee’s Which Way Challenge- Any Type of Road, Path, Sign, Step, or Bridge 

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved. 

Cameras: iPhone 14 Pro Max and Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF 75-300mm lens and Altura CPL Filter attachment.

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Blue Star Trail; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA.

God Bless. Thank you for hiking along the Blue Star Trail with us. Thank you for sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Looking In & Through an Historic Cabin’s Doors

Faires/Coltharp Cabin

Take a walk with us inside Faires/Coltharp Historic Cabin. You can see Coleman has no qualms about going through the door to check everything out. He is extremely inquisitive and loves to investigate everything he sees and comes across.

A Bit of History:

The Faires/Coltharp Cabin:

Dan’s Thursday Doors

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Cameras: Slides-1-3) Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens; All other photos) iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Location Faires/Coltharp Cabin; Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

Gathering of Friends (Not Just for Humans)

For this week I selected trios from the pasture which Coleman and I enjoyed watching on our hike at the Anne Springs Close Greenway.

Thursday Trios-04.04.24

Photo Credit:©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF75-300mm lens with Altura CPL Filter attachment.

Location: Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with us. I appreciate y’all very much.

2024 CMMC: April – Close up or Macro

Calendula officinalis L.
Marigold
Bunias orientalis,
Warty-cabbage
Helleborus viridis,
AKA Green Hellebore
Brassica oleracea
Wild Cabbage
Euonymus japonicus
‘Aureo-Marginata’

Cee’s Midweek Madness Challenge-April Close Up or Macro

Cee’s Flower of the Day (FOTD)

Photo Credit: ©️2024 Deb L. Waters … All Rights Reserved.

Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Canon EF-S55-250mm lens

Location: 1-4) The Heritage Garden; The Farm; The Schiele Museum of Natural History; Gastonia, North Carolina, USA; 5)Dairy Barn Entrance; Anne Springs Close Greenway; Fort Mill, South Carolina, USA

God Bless. Thank you for visiting and sharing your time and thoughts with me. I appreciate y’all very much.